how to make espresso

Brewed Espresso – What Is It and How Can You Make it at Home?

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espresso shot in demitasse

Espresso… is synonymous with the pinnacle of coffee brewing, and holds a unique place in the world of coffee. Often misunderstood as a concept, and confused, espresso is the pillar of the coffee shop menu. Can you brew espresso at home, though? This is the subject of this article, to explain what is a brewed … Read more

Weiss Distribution Technique – Is It Improving Your Espresso Shots?

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wdt tool

The Weiss Distribution Technique is one of the ways we can improve an espresso shot, beyond the run-of-the-mill shot.  The technique uses one or more needles to stir the ground coffee, for obtaining a perfect distribution of the grounds, with the aim to improve espresso extraction.  In this article we are going to discuss the … Read more

What Is the Best Espresso Extraction Temperature?

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espresso machine displaying the water temperature in the boiler.

extraction is a precise process, where multiple brewing variables are finely adjusted in order to obtain a great cup of . Brewing temperature is one of the important variables, and if we don't handle it properly our espresso might be ruined, or just average.

In this post we are going to look at how the brewing temperature can change the flavor of the espresso, and how ca we teak the temperature in order to perfect our shot.

The information in this post is intended for the advanced barista, who wants to finely tune their shots.

Lelit espresso machine with PID showing 94 degrees Celsius - 201 degrees Fahrenheit.

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What Is Espresso Crema?

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freshly pulled espresso shots with crema

Espresso crema is the thick, golden-brown foam that sits on top of a freshly brewed espresso. It is made up of coffee oils, coffee solids, and bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. Crema is important because it adds bitterness and body to the espresso, and it also helps to protect the coffee from going stale. Crema … Read more

What Is Espresso Channeling and How to Avoid it?

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pulling espresso shot with naked portafilter

You just pulled your espresso and the taste is not quite right. The shot is “missing flavors“, doesn’t have body, and you some sourness and bitterness that shouldn’t be there? This is likely because of the channeling.  Channeling happens more often than you think, when brewing espresso. Most of the time the shot is passable, … Read more

How to Tamp Espresso – The Perfect Espresso Tamping

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barista tamping espresso in portafilter

Espresso is one of those drinks that people love to hate. If done properly, it’s a delicious treat; if done badly, it’s bitter, burnt, and tastes awful. There are many factors involved in pulling a great espresso shot, including grind size, temperature, quality of the espresso machine, and many other. In this article we are … Read more

How to Pull the Perfect Espresso Shot

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perfect espresso shot pulled with bottomless portafilter 3

Making great espresso is not easy. Chasing the perfect shot, sometimes referred to as the God shot, is a race that requires patience, knowledge, skills and good equipment. Let’s not forget great coffee beans. Yes, the perfect shot of espresso is not impossible. It is within any home barista’s reach but you will need a … Read more

Extraction and Espresso Brewing – A Guide to Coffee Perfection

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just before pulling espresso shot

If you are interested in perfecting your making skills and technique, you need to understand the science behind it. The science behind espresso brewing is called extraction.

extraction is the process of dissolving ground coffee in water. This chemistry concept is important in because it determines how good your coffee is.

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Espresso-Based Beverages – Lungo

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espresso lungo

Do you love the taste of espresso but sometimes want something a little bit more? That’s why the espresso lungo has been invented. Lungo is a longer coffee than the normal espresso shot, making it less concentrated, but maintaining the same unique, rich flavor that we associate with espresso. In this blog post, we will … Read more

Espresso-Based Beverages – Ristretto

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ristretto in porcelain cup with saucer

When it comes to espresso, there are quite a few options available. Ristretto is the choice of snob coffee connoisseurs, (and I mean that in a good way), to awaken you senses, and to get you up to speed in the morning. What Is a Ristretto and How Is Different from a Normal Espresso? Ristretto … Read more

How To Make a Triple Shot Espresso

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triple espresso normale in demitasse

Do you like to start your day with a triple espresso shot? If so, then it is important that you know how to make this delicious drink correctly. This blog post will teach you how to make a triple espresso shot! And before you say: “I know how to pull a shot.” let me tell … Read more

How to Make Espresso With an Espresso Machine – A Definitive Guide

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Freshly brewed espresso shot

Everyone loves espresso coffee. No matter what we do to make our cup of joe at home, nothing seems to compare to a beautiful, strong, crema-topped espresso, which we get in our favorite coffee shop. But wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to recreate this at home?  The process for how to make espresso … Read more

What Is a Dead Espresso Shot and How Does It Taste?

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pulling espresso shot with lelit ana

If you landed on this page is probably because you heard discussions about ‘dead espresso’. You probably got worried about it, and are now thinking: “Am I letting my espresso die?” The good news is you probably don’t! But stick with me, and you’ll that as legitimate as it sounds, a “dead espresso” is just … Read more